school for violent students, Sen. Neletha (Honey) Butterfield said yesterday.

But what would happen to the students who needed such a facility right away? Sen. Butterfield made her comments while the Senate was considering the 1995-96 Budget estimates for the Education Ministry.

Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira recently announced that Woodlands School on Mount Hill -- a special school that is to close in June as part of the Ministry's plan to "mainstream'' handicapped students -- will reopen as a school for "hard core'' problem students in September.

While the Progressive Labour Party supported the plan, Sen. Butterfield said it was important that it be properly staffed.

In an editorial on Wednesday, The Royal Gazette criticised the plan as one that would stigmatise students and cause more problems.

Government Senate Leader the Hon. Gerald Simons said he recognised "the danger'' that was pointed out by the newspaper.

"I also know, if it's adequately planned, staffed, and run, the students who enter that school can be reintroduced to the mainstream once they've learned appropriate behaviour,'' Sen. Simons said.

Violence permeated society, so it should not be surprising to find violence in the schools, he said.

But a survey of secondary school principals showed that only about a dozen students were causing violent disruptions.

The Ministry was taking a "behaviour management approach'' to such problems, at both the primary and secondary level. Of about 7,000 students in the system, just over 100 were receiving behaviour management counselling. Peer mediation was also being used.

And teachers were receiving special training to help them handle problem students.